trade
♦♦♦ trade /tr'eɪd/ (trades trading traded)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
Trade is the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services between people, firms, or countries.
The ministry had direct control over every aspect of foreign trade.
...negotiations on a new international trade agreement...
Texas has a long history of trade with Mexico.
2 [VERB] V, V with n, V in n
When people, firms, or countries trade, they buy, sell, or exchange goods or services between themselves.
They may refuse to trade, even when offered attractive prices...
They had years of experience of trading with the West...
He has been trading in antique furniture for 25 years.
● trading [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
Trading on the stock exchange may be suspended...
3 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A trade is a particular area of business or industry.
They've completely ruined the tourist trade for the next few years.
...the arms trade.
4 [N-COUNT] oft poss N, also by N
Someone's trade is the kind of work that they do, especially when they have been trained to do it over a period of time.
He learnt his trade as a diver in the North Sea...
Allyn was a jeweller by trade...
5 [V-RECIP] V n for n (non-recip), pl-n V n, V n with n
If someone trades one thing for another or if two people trade things, they agree to exchange one thing for the other thing. (mainly AM)
They traded land for goods and money...
Kids used to trade baseball cards...
They suspected that Neville had traded secret information with Mr Foster.
[N-COUNT]
Trade is also a noun. (in BRIT, use exchange)
I am willing to make a trade with you...
6 [V-RECIP] V n with n, pl-n V n
If you trade places with someone or if the two of you trade places, you move into the other person's position or situation, and they move into yours. (mainly AM)
Mike asked George to trade places with him so he could ride with Tod...
The receiver and the quarterback are going to trade positions.
= exchange
7 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
In professional sports, for example football or baseball, if a player is traded from one team to another, they leave one team and begin playing for another. (AM; in BRIT, use transfer)
He was traded from the Giants to the Yankees...
The A's have not won a game since they traded him.
8 [V-RECIP] pl-n V n, V n with n
If two people or groups trade something such as blows, insults, or jokes, they hit each other, insult each other, or tell each other jokes. (mainly AM)
Children would settle disputes by trading punches or insults in the schoolyard...
They traded artillery fire with government forces inside the city.
= exchangebal|ance of trade (balances of trade)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A country's balance of trade is the difference in value, over a period of time, between the goods it imports and the goods it exports. (BUSINESS)
The deficit in Britain's balance of trade in March rose to more than 2100 million pounds.fair trade
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Fair trade is the practice of buying goods directly from producers in developing countries at a fair price.
...fair trade coffee.rag trade
[N-SING] the N
The rag trade is the business and industry of making and selling clothes, especially women's clothes.
The rag trade is extremely competitive, and one needs plenty of contacts in order to survive.slave trade
[N-SING] the N
The slave trade is the buying and selling of slaves, especially Black Africans, from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
...profits from the slave trade.trade as|so|cia|tion (trade associations)
[N-COUNT]
A trade association is a body representing organizations within the same trade. It aims to protect their collective interests, especially in negotiations with governments and trade unions.
...one of the two main trade associations for antiques dealers.trade down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n
If someone trades down, they sell something such as their car or house and buy a less expensive one.
They are selling their five-bedroom house and trading down to a two-bedroom cottage.trade fair (trade fairs)
[N-COUNT]
A trade fair is an exhibition where manufacturers show their products to other people in industry and try to get business.trade gap (trade gaps)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If a country imports goods worth more than the value of the goods that it exports, this is referred to as a trade gap. (BUSINESS)trade in
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you trade in an old car or appliance, you give it to the person you are buying a new one from so that you pay less.
He had a Rolls-Royce, and he traded it in for two matching silver Range Rovers...
Richard refused to trade in his old Canon cameras.
see also trade-intrade name (trade names)
[N-COUNT]
A trade name is the name which manufacturers give to a product or to a range of products.
It's marketed under the trade name `Tattle'.
= brand nametrade off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n against n, V P n for n
If you trade off one thing against another, you exchange all or part of one thing for another, as part of a negotiation or compromise.
They cynically tried to trade off a reduction in the slaughter of dolphins against a resumption of commercial whaling...
There is a possibility of being able to trade off information for a reduced sentence.
see also trade-offtrade route (trade routes)
[N-COUNT]
A trade route is a route, often covering long distances, that is used by traders.trade se|cret (trade secrets)
1 [N-COUNT]
A trade secret is information that is known, used, and kept secret by a particular firm, for example about a method of production or a chemical process.
The nature of the polymer is currently a trade secret.
2 [N-COUNT]
A trade secret is a piece of knowledge that you have, especially about how to do something, that you are not willing to tell other people.
I'd rather not talk about it too much because I don't like giving trade secrets away.trade sur|plus (trade surpluses)
[N-COUNT]
If a country has a trade surplus, it exports more than it imports. (BUSINESS)
The country's trade surplus widened to 16.5 billion dollars.trade un|ion (trade unions)
also trades union
[N-COUNT] oft N n
A trade union is an organization that has been formed by workers in order to represent their rights and interests to their employers, for example in order to improve working conditions or wages. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use labor union)trade un|ion|ism
[N-UNCOUNT]
Trade unionism is the system, practices, and beliefs of trade unions.trade un|ion|ist (trade unionists)
also trades unionist
[N-COUNT]
A trade unionist is an active member of a trade union. (BRIT)trade up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P
If someone trades up, they sell something such as their car or their house and buy a more expensive one.
Mini-car owners are trading up to `real' cars...
Homeowners will feel more comfortable and they may feel ready to trade up.
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
Trade is the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services between people, firms, or countries.
The ministry had direct control over every aspect of foreign trade.
...negotiations on a new international trade agreement...
Texas has a long history of trade with Mexico.
2 [VERB] V, V with n, V in n
When people, firms, or countries trade, they buy, sell, or exchange goods or services between themselves.
They may refuse to trade, even when offered attractive prices...
They had years of experience of trading with the West...
He has been trading in antique furniture for 25 years.
● trading [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
Trading on the stock exchange may be suspended...
3 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A trade is a particular area of business or industry.
They've completely ruined the tourist trade for the next few years.
...the arms trade.
4 [N-COUNT] oft poss N, also by N
Someone's trade is the kind of work that they do, especially when they have been trained to do it over a period of time.
He learnt his trade as a diver in the North Sea...
Allyn was a jeweller by trade...
5 [V-RECIP] V n for n (non-recip), pl-n V n, V n with n
If someone trades one thing for another or if two people trade things, they agree to exchange one thing for the other thing. (mainly AM)
They traded land for goods and money...
Kids used to trade baseball cards...
They suspected that Neville had traded secret information with Mr Foster.
[N-COUNT]
Trade is also a noun. (in BRIT, use exchange)
I am willing to make a trade with you...
6 [V-RECIP] V n with n, pl-n V n
If you trade places with someone or if the two of you trade places, you move into the other person's position or situation, and they move into yours. (mainly AM)
Mike asked George to trade places with him so he could ride with Tod...
The receiver and the quarterback are going to trade positions.
= exchange
7 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
In professional sports, for example football or baseball, if a player is traded from one team to another, they leave one team and begin playing for another. (AM; in BRIT, use transfer)
He was traded from the Giants to the Yankees...
The A's have not won a game since they traded him.
8 [V-RECIP] pl-n V n, V n with n
If two people or groups trade something such as blows, insults, or jokes, they hit each other, insult each other, or tell each other jokes. (mainly AM)
Children would settle disputes by trading punches or insults in the schoolyard...
They traded artillery fire with government forces inside the city.
= exchangebal|ance of trade (balances of trade)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A country's balance of trade is the difference in value, over a period of time, between the goods it imports and the goods it exports. (BUSINESS)
The deficit in Britain's balance of trade in March rose to more than 2100 million pounds.fair trade
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Fair trade is the practice of buying goods directly from producers in developing countries at a fair price.
...fair trade coffee.rag trade
[N-SING] the N
The rag trade is the business and industry of making and selling clothes, especially women's clothes.
The rag trade is extremely competitive, and one needs plenty of contacts in order to survive.slave trade
[N-SING] the N
The slave trade is the buying and selling of slaves, especially Black Africans, from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
...profits from the slave trade.trade as|so|cia|tion (trade associations)
[N-COUNT]
A trade association is a body representing organizations within the same trade. It aims to protect their collective interests, especially in negotiations with governments and trade unions.
...one of the two main trade associations for antiques dealers.trade down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n
If someone trades down, they sell something such as their car or house and buy a less expensive one.
They are selling their five-bedroom house and trading down to a two-bedroom cottage.trade fair (trade fairs)
[N-COUNT]
A trade fair is an exhibition where manufacturers show their products to other people in industry and try to get business.trade gap (trade gaps)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
If a country imports goods worth more than the value of the goods that it exports, this is referred to as a trade gap. (BUSINESS)trade in
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you trade in an old car or appliance, you give it to the person you are buying a new one from so that you pay less.
He had a Rolls-Royce, and he traded it in for two matching silver Range Rovers...
Richard refused to trade in his old Canon cameras.
see also trade-intrade name (trade names)
[N-COUNT]
A trade name is the name which manufacturers give to a product or to a range of products.
It's marketed under the trade name `Tattle'.
= brand nametrade off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n against n, V P n for n
If you trade off one thing against another, you exchange all or part of one thing for another, as part of a negotiation or compromise.
They cynically tried to trade off a reduction in the slaughter of dolphins against a resumption of commercial whaling...
There is a possibility of being able to trade off information for a reduced sentence.
see also trade-offtrade route (trade routes)
[N-COUNT]
A trade route is a route, often covering long distances, that is used by traders.trade se|cret (trade secrets)
1 [N-COUNT]
A trade secret is information that is known, used, and kept secret by a particular firm, for example about a method of production or a chemical process.
The nature of the polymer is currently a trade secret.
2 [N-COUNT]
A trade secret is a piece of knowledge that you have, especially about how to do something, that you are not willing to tell other people.
I'd rather not talk about it too much because I don't like giving trade secrets away.trade sur|plus (trade surpluses)
[N-COUNT]
If a country has a trade surplus, it exports more than it imports. (BUSINESS)
The country's trade surplus widened to 16.5 billion dollars.trade un|ion (trade unions)
also trades union
[N-COUNT] oft N n
A trade union is an organization that has been formed by workers in order to represent their rights and interests to their employers, for example in order to improve working conditions or wages. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use labor union)trade un|ion|ism
[N-UNCOUNT]
Trade unionism is the system, practices, and beliefs of trade unions.trade un|ion|ist (trade unionists)
also trades unionist
[N-COUNT]
A trade unionist is an active member of a trade union. (BRIT)trade up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P
If someone trades up, they sell something such as their car or their house and buy a more expensive one.
Mini-car owners are trading up to `real' cars...
Homeowners will feel more comfortable and they may feel ready to trade up.